After testing 3,000 British people, researchers found that among the 55-year-old group, those with lower HDL levels had 27% poorer memory than their peers; in the 60-year-old test group, the problem was even more severe. Therefore, on the famous American TV show "Good Morning America," American doctor Tim Johnson offered his own advice. Firstly, theoretically, beneficial cholesterol can prevent harmful cholesterol from entering the arteries, which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke in the elderly, thereby lessening the impact of these diseases on the brain; secondly, HDL can promote connections between brain nerves, which is obviously beneficial to memory; thirdly, HDL can control a structure called beta-amyloid, which is one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, scientists have proposed several methods to increase the level of HDL in the human body.
1. Use lipid-lowering drugs such as statins to increase HDL levels;
2. Maintain exercise and reduce body weight;
3. Quit smoking;
4. Minimize the consumption of alcoholic beverages;
5. Reduce the intake of trans fats and saturated fats;
6. Use olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil for cooking.
Dr. Johnson pointed out that it is not usually easy to increase the body's HDL levels through diet and changing lifestyle habits; exercise, on the other hand, may have a better effect.